John a



(No Model.)

J. A. DOHERTY.

SHOE LACE PASTENEE. No. 499,376. Patented June 13, 1893.

" 'W/TNESSES:

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

JOHN A. DOHERTY, OF NEW YORK, N. Y.

SHOE-LACE FASTENER.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 499,376, dated June 13, 1893.

Application filed June 27, 1892. Serial No. 438,137. (No model.)

T0 at whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, JOHN A. DOHERTY, a citizen of the United States, and a resident of the city, county, and State of New York, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Fasteners for Shoe-Strings, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to an improved fastener for the strings of shoes, leggins, gloves and similar articles, whereby the strings are firmly locked in position after the shoe or other article is laced tight, and by which the strings are readily released when it is desired to remove the shoe or other article.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 represents a perspective-view of a shoe, showin g my improved fasteners for the shoe-strings in position thereon. Fig. 2 isa front-view of my improved shoe-fastener, showing two different modifications of the same, and Figs. 3 and 4 are respectively a front-view and an endview of the fastener, shown ona larger scale.

Similar letters of reference indicate corresponding parts.

This improved fastener comprises an attachin g plate or tang 0. adapted for attachment by means of rivets or otherwise to the flap of the shoe or other article in connection with which it is used, a U-shaped hook I) at one end of said plate, and an arm B pivoted at the opposite end of said plate and swinging in a plane parallel therewith. The U-shaped hook is provided with a slot d,which extends around the bend of the hook. The other or free end of the pivoted arm B is provided with a rounded head or stud B which projects outward from the upper face of said arm. The arm A is also preferably provided with a handle which may be in the form of a button e, as shown in Fig. 3, or an arm 6', as shown in Fig. 2.

In the use of this fastener, the attaching plate a is riveted to the flap of the shoe or other article to which the fastener is to be applied, as illustrated in Figs. 1 and 2. The fastener being open as illustrated in Fig. 3 and on the right hand flap of Fig. 2, the cord or string is passed into the hook I) and the arm B is swung into position parallel with the plate a, the head B thereof extending into the slotted hook which acts as a socket for the string as illustrated on the left hand flap of Fig. 2. When the arm B is swung down and into the hook b the head B engages the string and presses it against the hook and into the slot d of the same, the edge of the slot engaging the string whereby the latter is held firmly in position against accidental disengagement. The greater the strain that is exerted on the shoe-string after the same is clamped between the head of the pivoted arm B and the slotted hook the greater will be the pressure exerted by the same on the string. When it is desired to remove the shoe-string from the hook, the pivot-arm B is lifted by taking hold of the projecting handle e, or 6 until the head is raised above the hook and released from the shoe-string, and then the latter can be readily detached. The hook may have a spring action on the head when composed of spring metal.

Having thus described my invention, What I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

1. A fastener for lacing strings consisting of an attaching plate having aslotted spring hook at one end and an arm pivoted to its other end, said arm being provided with a head for engaging said slotted hook.

2. A fastener for shoe-strings consisting of a plate, having a slotted spring hook at one end and an arm pivoted to itsother end; said arm being provided with a head for engaging said slotted hook and with a handle for releasing said head from said hook.

3. A fastener for shoe strings consisting of a plate, having a slotted springtapering hook at one end and an arm pivoted to its other end; said arm being provided with ahead for engaging said slotted hook and with'ahandle for releasing said head from said hook.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing as my invention I have signed my name in presence of two subscribing witnesses.

' JOHN A. DOl-IERTY.

Witnesses:

' GEORGE BEIRMAN,

FRED. Vorzrno. 

